PC Gamers limiting PC gaming

I have seen numerous times great animosity to the use of a controller. I not sure when this trend became the norm but PC gaming was never about exclusively gaming with a mouse and keyboard. The availability of joystick, now controller has always been part of PC gaming and I don't understand why some PC gamers are so dogmatic especially with new gamers on the PC for the supposed mandatory use of the mouse and keyboard. Is it hard to conceive that someone can be a PC gamer and never played a game on the PC using the mouse and keyboard? PC gaming is about options and inclusiveness not exclusivity.

you're preaching to the choir, not sure where you're seeing this alternate reality you seem to live in. Also has nothing to do with your title.

Yes ! I totally agree !

@Pedro: options, indeed. PC is all about freedom to game how you want. That said, you'll excuse me for giggling if I see someone playing an FPS on a PC with a controller.

I am not living in an alternate universe as you have claimed. I have seen this behavior time and time again. It relates to the title because the behavior has a negative impact people who are new to PC gaming. Obviously, this does not apply to all PC gamers , just the annoyingly outspoken ones.

Hey, some FPS work well with the controller mainly the console developed ones.

I mainly use mouse and keyboard, but its up to that person how they want to game. I dare someone give me a hard time for gaming my way, when in no way shape or form they put a cent into my setup.

it think pc gamers only get annoyed when mouse and keyboard is not an option, or poorly implemented.

dead rising 3 for example is nearly unplayable with mouse and keyboard

I got a Mice, keyboard, controller, gaming keypad, joystick, and I can't wait to get my hands on the new steam controller. They all have their pros, cons, and situations of use.

I couldn't agree more with the OP.

Glad there's Scanners to fall back on.

wait... so the title of this thread is, " PC Gamers limiting PC Gaming" and the subject is about a PC Gamer who thinks a controller is not limiting?

lol....

Thats totally understandable since its standard for each PC.

I don't think I've seen that.

I have, however, seen many PC gamers proclaim Keyboard/Mouse superiority for the wide variety of genres where that holds true, while also proclaiming how great it is that they have the choice to use controllers (or anything else) when playing any type of game.

Pftt, analog control vs. pure 100% control? yeah right

The reason is simple really: mouse can be moved a very long distance with medium/big mouse pad which gives you almost 100% control of the aim at any speed of your movement.

Analog controls are limited due to their size and lack of free roam with the stick.

When it comes to FPS and RTS there's nothing that beats mouse + keyboard, racing games on the other hand I enjoy the most with controller because they've got full control of the acceleration and brakes.

@Pedro: I rarely play with mouse and keyboard... but I do see the attitude you describe with pc gamers quite often.

What are you talking about and what are you responding to? No question was asked, so stating "The reason is simple really..." makes no sense to what you are responding to. In the end none of this matter because in its ultimately the player's choice.

I primarily use mouse and keyboard, but use the controller regularly for those games that are built around consoles.

Wot you mean? This rule only applies for online shooters. You are going to get gaped with controller anyway. Everything else is fine with controller, ex. racing games, sandboxes, and what not.

No one said anything about restricting you to use anything, just fact on what is more comfortable and the reason to.

Some pc gamers will say you are doing it wrong with a controller, you know they are the ones you can ignore.

All I expect for a game to be played on the PC is to have to decent mouse/keyboard controls and ones that you can change the bindings on. It's the games that have piss poor or no mouse/keyboard support and specificlly require a controller to play correctly that irritate me. If the game is going to be on the PC, make sure mouse/keyboard are supported properly and then add controller support afterwards. This way everyone on the PC can have the best of both worlds - those that don't like using controllers (or just don't have one) and those that do.

There are people like me out there that can't really afford to drop extra money on other things to play a video game. I have a mouse/keyboard on my PC, but dropping an extra $40+ to get a controller that might be used for a couple of games isn't worth it to me. I'm better off spending that money on filling up my car so I can get to and from work and get the kids to and from school/daycare. If I spend $3-5 on a cheap game for the PC to fill my free time (what little I have sometimes), I'd like to see the game work correctly on the PC with a mouse/keyboard first and foremost.

Thank you. I actually like controllers for a lot of games like assassins creed and Batman simply because the buttons are more comfortable for my hands (I think I'm developing some tendentious and a little bit of carpel tunnel), but when I'm playing competitive shooters or an MMO, I'm playing with M/KB.

Don't the majority of gamers we see today switch from say a console to PC due to try out the mouse and keyboard feature? Apparently it gives a much more user 'friendly' experience as it gives us smoother game play and natural mechanics. Or another reason would be this whole PC master race. I PC game and console game and I prefer console game however that being said it is nice to use a mouse once in a while. Personally I believe depending on the style of game the input should change. For example RPG's work better with mice. but thats just an opinion? anyone agree?

Its called xpadder or motionjoy

Anyway, when you look at the popular PC games, many which are strategy games, well obviously a mouse and keyboard are preferable and the same applies to fps no discussion. It isn't that controllers are bad, they are HORRIBLE for PC gaming due to the delays and slower reaction times. Using a gamepad in a community full of PC no lifers with $300 mouse, macros, hacks, pimped out FPS....playing with a controller puts you at a distinct disadvantage. If you are on a team, well you are a liability and a hindrance to the team.

The next obvious issue is the lack of buttons on gamepads. For example I can play TERA, GW2, DCUO, Elsword, Vindictus, etc. fine with a controller, but oddly enough most PC gamers will not waste the necessary 1-2hrs learning how to customize a gamepad for every single game because yes each game requires a different set up and unique button combinations. Moreover, certain functions require inputs of 0.05s which is not impossible, but incredibly difficult to do on a gamepad. If you lose a 3v3 arena, the last thing you want to hear is, "oh I couldn't put xyz move or Resurrection spell on my controller."

The majority of FPS games are console developed. I find most PC FPS these days somewhat uncomfortable with mouse and keyboard.

Wat? I've used controller for simulation games, arcade games, Fifa etc but never for FPS. If you play FPS it MUST be on mouse and keyboard!! Grew up playing UT1999, CS1.3 and Q3A so nothing in the world will convince me to play FPS with a controller. Also not to mention MMOs, RTS and RPGs. Games like civilization, Divinity, Wasteland 2 etc are not meant to be played with controller.

I've never seen a PC gamer bashing at another PC gamer for playing with a controller.

@Pedro: 'Is it hard to conceive that someone can be a PC gamer and never played a game on the PC using the mouse and keyboard?'

Yes, it's very hard to conceive that a PC gamer has never played a game on their computer using a mouse and keyboard.

I use controllers for plenty of PC games, not once have I ever refused to play a PC game because it was or wasn't mouse & keyboard only. I love using that DS4 anyways so I'm always happy to plug it into the PC for a while!

Options are great and all but...

I can drive a nail into a board with a hammer, a pair of scissors, or my head. Which would be the better option? For certain games a controller might be the better choice, and for others, M/Kb. As most people have already said, the "best" input device really depends on the game/genre.

Just like I can't imagine playing a driving game with a mouse and keyboard - I can't imagine playing a RPG, like Divinity: Original Sin or Fallout 2, with a controller.

That is not a fact and stop stating it as if it is.

Having the option of using K+M doesn't hurt.

KB+M is like the crocodile; it has been around forever, has not needed to evolve, and (excluding humanity) is at the top of the food chain in its environment.

There are, occasionally, times when a controller can come in handy, but this is often because of developers too lazy to do a proper port, or publishers rushing an unoptimized game to market. Furthermore, many (most?) PC games offer controller support, and some gamers take advantage of this. I do not see this as limiting PC gaming; it is taking advantage of the very thing you want to occur. You are, as another said, preaching to the choir.

With that said, KB+M is the best. Why would I handicap myself with a controller? I could if I wanted to, but, why?

If you don't think mouse + keyboard is comfortable, you'd be better of playing consoles - saves a lot of money if you don't mind the resolution.

Are you trying to imply that PC gaming is ONLY gaming with the mouse and keyboard and that the sole benefit of gaming on the PC is for mouse and keyboard controls? Are you also stating that if someone does not find the use of a mouse and keyboard comfortable or as you so boldly stated earlier factually more comfortable that they should not be gaming on the PC?Its clear that you don't understand the benefit of PC gaming and is part of the people who push people away from PC gaming by giving the illusion that a mouse and keyboard is the only method of playing games on the system.

I am not preaching to the choir if the choir is still stating that KB+M is the best. Its the best for some people and not the best for others. It does not matter whether or not is more accurate for specific games. When KB + M is stated as the best in line of a fact its inaccurate because its the best for certain types of games and in the games where either control type can be used is dependent on the person. In addition such statements indicate to the average person that ALL games on the PC has to be played with the KB+M when its simply not true and is limiting the potential of PC gaming because of this mass misinformation.

Well most of the gamers still use mouse and keyboard, some buy controller, some buy wheels, maybe HOTAS - but one thing in common with all, most of them use keyboard and mouse for gaming, unless you strickly play only racing games or IDK flight simulators etc.

No one said you can game only with mouse and keyboard, I'm just stating some facts that most gamers on PC do play with mouse and keyboard; not sure about the part that people give the illusion that mouse and keyboard is the only method, it's the main method as much as controller is the main method on consoles.

i game with a mouse and keyboard usually. but some games work better with a controller so i use that also. Usually though mouse and keyboard offers better accuracy in shooters and games like that. I find with console ports though usually a lot of games are easier with a controller since they were designed for them. I found Tomb Raider 2013 easier with a controller.

It depends on the game for me.

If I'm playing Starcraft 2 then I'll use KB/M. If it's Batman, then it's X360 pad.

As far as Im aware most people consider a wide range of input devices a good thing for pc? I think most of us simply pick the input device that Works the best for any specific genre. I will never use a controlelr for an FPS, they will never be better then a kb/m (unless the controller design is changed drasticly). I would never play a beat'em up with KB/M and I would never play a flight sim with either one :\

What most people say, and I agree on, is that using a controller is well and good, but using a controller online for mp gaming will likely often leave you in a less desirable position, namely that of the carbet.

But Ive never seen anyone state that using a controller in general is doing it wrong ^.-

@Pedro:

First off, lets stop using "best" and "worst" to describe different methods of interacting with games. Lets use terms such as precision, accuracy, ergonomic support, and other such criteria to weigh pros and cons.

Technically, KB+M is more accurate, precise, and can achieve a greater degree of interaction with games and interfaces than a controller can. Let's ask ourselves some questions:

How long does it take you to "type" your name with a controller, versus KB+M?
How accurately and quickly can a controller move a cursor to an item on the screen, versus KB+M?
And, most damning of all, why is there often auto-aim put into console games, and not PC games?

Controllers are comfortable and convenient; sometimes I'd love nothing more than to lounge on a couch with a single device in my hands and play my favorite game, but at what cost? A lower score, frustrating interactions with games and user interfaces, and more.

And I did not say, in my original post, KB+M is appropriate for "ALL games on the PC" as you said I did.

In the end, it comes down to what is natural and comfortable, and for people on the PC, the mouse and keyboard is available, they are already comfortable with it, and it is the best for them most of the time.

I see that you are trying to be objective but you are blatantly not.Firstly the keyboard's primary function is for typing. Its initial and current design is not for gaming, this a fact. However, it has been used and effectively been used for gaming. I am stating this solely because of the nonsensical comparison of KB+M vs controller for typing. In addition to that the KB+M combo is more in favor of the mouse that the keyboard. The mouse is what offers the majority of the benefits of the combo. Secondly FPS and RTS are not the only games on the PC. Fortunately the PC offers a vast variety of games cover all genre. So, the KB+M combo is beneficial in certain genres in the same manner the controller is beneficial in others.

But all of this does not matter because the point isn't about which one is better than the other, or which one is more accurate or has better ergonomics because at the end of it all it is dependent solely on the player. The problem starts when arguments like the above are used against anyone who prefers to use a controller instead of a KB+M. If someone prefers the controller, there shouldn't be a need to "correct" them. This is the mentality that is a problem and limits the inclusiveness of the platform. PC games in general should also take advantage of this variety of input options to be more inclusive. I have seen some devs include touch interface for RTS games, which a is step in the right direction.

"And I did not say, in my original post, KB+M is appropriate for "ALL games on the PC" as you said I did." - The following reads to the contrary.

"There are, occasionally, times when a controller can come in handy, but this is often because of developers too lazy to do a proper port, or publishers rushing an unoptimized game to market.

With that said, KB+M is the best. Why would I handicap myself with a controller? I could if I wanted to, but, why?"

@Pedro:

I love playing with a controller using my PC. Since I have my PC setup so it connects to my TV screen. And plays like a console. So I end up playing with a controller when I can. Otherwise use a wireless keyboard with a trackball. But I like the condensed experience of a controller better.

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A keyboard is simply better for fps than a controller. There is never a time when you do not want to be going full strafe speed. With a controller you have to move the stick in the opposite direction and this is significantly longer.

For things like spacing in fighting games, then by all means use a controller.

Most pc games from large developers all support controller anyway.

Have the PC in the loungeroom and only play with a controller. It's my preferred lifestyle of gaming and it feels like I'm playing on a console of the future. More and more games are coming out these days with full controller support. The only problem I see is when devs don't optimise the game for both controller and/or keyboard and mouse thus not letting the gamer have a choice of input.
re: Games that are designed to be played with a controller don't belong on the PC.
What? So they should cancel the new Batman game on PC and just release on console? That's what your implying.

You are exactly the problem with PC gaming. Being ignorant and arrogant at the same time is not good for your health. And while you are at it keep your silly labeling to yourself thank you. :)

I agree with you but the other thing limiting PC gaming is the complexity of understanding the workings of a desktop system. People would just rather buy a console because it is plug and play. A computer is only plug and play if you buy it at the store AND it comes with a capable video card. It takes hours/days/weeks/months to learn how to troubleshoot/build a computer.

Also the consoles come with controllers, maybe manufacturers should bundle controllers too? I know one thing, for flight and fighting games a controller/joystick is the best. Also for racing games a controller is much better. Saitek and Logitech and some of the strongest companies along with Microsoft.

However it's just so much easier to buy a console, people don't have to update their system, get an internet connection, or deal with stupid errors.

Really the main issue here is the operating system. Should MS make a branch of Windows catered to gamers? They already have Windows 8 for the tablets, but gamers are such a small % on the PC vs the consoles. Consoles sales are much larger and piracy is rampant on the PC.

It's really a complex issue, but the PC is truly free. Social games etc are here and the MMOS might be on a decline. I could go on and on but the PC is really an open platform while the consoles are limited to the hardware power shipped out of the box and what they can do with updates.

Alienware Alpha is currently trying to address the issues you have listed.

I prefer to play Keyboard and mouse setup , i didnt find a reason to play with game pad only with some games .. like dark souls . but majority is key+ mouse , that is what i prefer , and PC allow me to chose whatever i want :)